Hot-water heating system



J. C. HARTWELL. HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1915.

1,378,348. Patented May 17,1921.

5 by aaaaalmzk,

UNITED STTE S PATENT OFFICE.

GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY,

OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HOT-WATER HEATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 7, 1915. Serial No. 49,137.

and will also have a high degree of efiiciency in proportion to the sizeand number of the heating units employed. Briefly described, theinvention is characterized by the employment'of a number of individualhot water heaters so combined with the other parts of the system thatthey may be arranged for the circulation of water through them either inseries or in parallel, as well as individually or collectively, andpreferably, for producing thecirculation, the system includesindependent circulating pumps equal in number to the heaters andarranged in parallel in such manner that one or more of the pumps may beused, as conditions may require. For the purpose of explaining theinvention it will sufiice to describe a. system having two heaters andtwo pumps, as the arrangement and mode of operation of any greaternumber will be readily understood.

A system embodying my invention and containing the parts above referredto as preferably arranged and combined is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which the figure shows the heaters and pumpsdiagrammatically, together with the pipes and valves immediatelyassociated therewith.

According to the arrangement illustrated the two heaters 2 and 3 havetheir outlets connected respectively by branch pipes 4 and 5 to a crosspipe 6 leading to the main supply pipe 7, through which the heated wateris conveyed to the usual radiating pipes or fixtures (not shown). Theinlets to the heaters 2 and 3 are connected respectively by branch pipes8 and 9 to another cross pipe 10, into one end of which the water isforced. A pipe 11 connects the cross pipes 6 and 10, its connection withthe pipe 6 being located between the branch pipes 4 and 5 and itsconnection with the pipe 10 being located between the branch pipes 8 and9. The outlets from the circulating pumps 12 and 13 are connectedrespectively by branch pipes 14 and 15 to a cross pipe 16 leading to thecross pipe 10 which supplies the heaters, and the inlets to saidcirculating pumps 12 and 13 are connected respectively by branch pipes17 and 18 to a cross pipe 19 leading to the main return pipe 20 of thecirculating system.

The with three gate valves 21, 22 and 23, of which the valve 21 islocated in the pipe 11, the valve 22 is located in the cross pipe 6between the branch and the valve 23 is located in 10 between the branchpipe 8 and the pipe 11. In addition, the branch pipes 5 and 8 arepreferably provided with gate valves 24 and 25 respectively. althoughthese are not essential to the operativeness of the system. Preferably,also, the branch pipes 14, 15, 17 and 18 leading from and to thecirculating pumps are provided respectively with gate valves 26. 27. 28and 29. although the passage through either pump may obviously be closedby a single valve.

The heaters 2 and 3 and the pumps 12 and 13 may be of any usual orsuitable construction. but as it is advantageous in some cases to employsteam for supplying heat to the heaters as hereinafter described I haveshown each of said heaters as provided with an inlet pipe 30 and anoutlet pipe 31 for conveying steam to and from it.

As thus constructed the system is adapted to be used as follows:Assuming that the valves which control the circulation through one orboth of the pumps are open and that the valves 24 and 25 are also open,the heaters 2 and 3 may be arranged in parallel by opening the valves 22and 23 and closing the valve 21. The water will then flow through bothheaters from the cross pipe 10 to the cross pipe 6 and thence to themain supply pipe 7, passing partly through one heater and partly throughthe other. By opening the valve 21 and closing the valves 22 and 23 thetwo heaters may be connected in series, in which case the water willflow first through the heater 2, thence by way of the Patented May 1'7,1921. I

piping above described is provided,

pipe 5 and the pipe 11,. the cross pipe pipe 11 to and through theheater 3, and from the latter to the cross pipe 6 and sup-' ply pipe 7.If the valves 21 and 23 are closed and the valve 22 is open the heater 2The series arrangement is thus particularlyadaptedforhigh-temperatureheating. When the heat demand on the system islight it can alone will be in operation, and by then closbe met by usinga single heater only, and this 70 ing the valve 24 the heater 3 may beisolated heater can be supplied with heat by waste from the system forthe purpose of cleaning steam or live steam, according to the temorrepairing it. Likewise, if the valve 23 is perature required. Either orboth of the open and the valves 21 and 22 are closed the heaters may beotherwise supplied with heat,

10-heater 3 alone will be in operation, where if preferred, the partsindicated at 2 and 3 75 uponby closing the valve 25 the heater2 in-thedrawing being intended to represent may be isolated for cleaning orrepairs. any form of heater suitable for use in a hot Thus the valves 24and 25 serve primarily water circulating system.

- for isolating the respective heaters, but it It will be seen that thearrangement of will be seen that the closing of the valve- 24 heatersabove described gives the system-great 80 will serve the same purpose asthe closing-of flexibility and capacity of adaptation to the valve 23 incase the heater 2' is to be meet the heating demand under different usedalone, and-that the closing of the valve conditions of use, and thisflexibility is pro- 25 will serve the same purpose as the closing motedby the employment of as many cirof the valve 22in case the heater 3 isto be culating'pumps as there are heaters, since it 5 used alone,provided that in either case the will 'suflice to run a single pump whenthe valve 21 is also closed and that neither demand is light. So far asthe arrangement heater is required to be completely isolated. of theheaters is concerned, however, the Also, if the valves 23 and 24 areclosed the circulation may be produced by any ade- 26 valve 21 may beleft open when the heater quate means, and the arrangement of the 90 2is to be used alone, and said valve 21 may piping and valves associatedwith the heatalso be left open in case the heater 3 is to ers maybemodified in various ways without be used alone, provided the valves 22and departing from my invention, so long as v are closed. Thispossibility of control by the heaters are capable of arrangement 30different valves is useful in case any of the either in parallel or inseries and are com- 95 valves themselves get out of repair. bi'ned withmeans for producing an adequate I The manner in which the flow throughcirculation of water through the system of the circulating pumps iscontrolled by their which they form a part.

respective valves will be obvious. When all I claim '35 these valves areopen both pumps maybe 1. In a hot water heating system arranged 100.

used for circulation, and either pump may for the continuous circulatlonof water therebe completely isolated by closing both of the in, thecombination of a plurality of-water associated valves. heatersindependently-connected to thecir- When the heaters are utilized inparallel culating system on the supply and return 40 relation thearrangement is adapted to meet sides of the same, means for supplyingheat 105 the maximum heating demand on the systo the several heatersindependentlyof one tem, and has the advantage that it reduces another,means included in the system for the frictional resistance to thecirculation effecting a forced circulation of water of the water, ascompared with a system through it, and means for causing the cirhavlngasingle heater, and therefore reduces culating water to pass through theheaters the amount of power required to produce either in series or inparallel relation. the necessary clrculation. If the two heat- 2. In ahot water heating system arranged ers are unequal in tube capacity theflow for the continuous circulatlon of water therethrough each heatercan be regulated as dein, the combination of a plurality of water tosired by appropriately adjusting the valve heaters independentlyconnected to the ciror valves controlling the pipe connections culatingsystem,jon the supply and return to that heater. When the heatersareutisides of the same, means for supplying heat lized 1n serles1'618131011 all the circulating to the several heaters independently ofone water has to pass through each heater, and another, a plurality ofcirculatin pumps in- 5 hence with this arrangement the water can cludedin said system in paral elrelation,

-be heated to a comparatlvely low temperaand means for causing thecirculating water ture 111 the first heater and h ought up to assthrough the heaters either in series by the second heater the highertemperaor. in parallel relation.

ture required, according to the demand on 3. In a hot water heatingsystem arranged 60 1311? y t In Such case 91 Of dperfor the continuouscirculation of water thereation can be effected by utilizing waste in,the combination of a plurality of water steam, such as the exhaust steamfrom. the heaters independently connected to the circirculatlng pump orpumps for example, for culating system on the supply and return supplymgheat to the first heater, the heat sides of the same, valves controllingthe di- 65 at h ghertemperature being supplied to the rect flow from oneheater to the supply side neraeee of the system and from the return sideof the system to another heater, respectively,

pipe connections between the outlet side ofof the system and from thereturn side of the system to another heater, respectively, pipeconnections between the outlet side of the former heater and the inletside of the latter heater, a valve controlling said pipe connections,and a plurality of circulating pumps included in the system in parallelrelation.

5. In a hot water heating system arranged for the continuous circulationof water therein, the combination of a plurality of water heaters,independent branch pipes connecting the outlets from said heaterswiththe circulating system on the-supply side, independent branch pipesconnecting the inlets to said heaters with the circulating system on thereturn side, a pipe providing a connec* tion between the outlet from oneheater and the inlet to another heater, a valve controlling the latterpipe, valves controlling the connections between said pipe and thesupply and return sides of the system, respectively,

additional valves for isolating the respective heaters, and meansincluded in the system for eifecting a forced circulation of waterthrough the same.

6. In a hot water heating system arranged for the continuous circulationof water therein,the combination of a plurality of water heaters,independent branch pipes connect ing the outlets from said heaters withthe circulating system on the supply side, in-

dependent branch pipes conecting thefinlets to said heaters with thecirculating system on the return side, a pipe providing a connectionbetween the outlet from one hea er and the inlet to another heater, avalve controlling the latter' pipe, valves controllingthe connectionsbetween said pipe and the supply and return sides of the system,respectively, additional valves for isolating the respective heaters, aplurality of circulating pumps included in the system in parallelrelation, and valves for isolating either pump.

7 In a hot water heating system arranged for the continuous circulationof water therein, the combinationof a plurality of water heatersindependently connected to the circulating system on the supply andreturn sides of'the same, means included inthe sys term for eflecting aforced circulation of waculating'water to pass through the heaterseither in series or in parallel relation, and means for cutting off theflow ,of water through either heater without affecting the flow throughany other heater. h

. 8. In a hot water heating system arranged for the continuouscirculation of water therein, the combination of a plurality of water'ter through it, means for causing the cirheaters independent-1yconnected to the cirjculating system on the supply and return "sides ofthe same, means included in the system for effecting a forcedcirculation of water through it, means for causing the circulating waterto pass through'the heaters either in series or in parallel relation,and

valves included in the connections between the heaters and the supplyand return sides of the system whereby any heater may be isolatedfrom-the system without interfering.

with the operation of any other heater.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed'my name this 2nd day ofSeptember, 1915. I v D I .iosiaru caaiuss naarwria.

Witnesses:

ALBERT JOHN Lonrsmo'nn, J osnrn HAROLD OA'rns.

